Bike Lights Buyers Guide

As soon as daylight starts to fade, the law says you need to have a white front light and a red rear light on your bike, as well as red rear reflectors and amber/yellow pedal reflectors on the front and rear of each pedal. Sounds pretty simple, but there are so many different types of lights out there that knowing which one's best for you isn't always straightforward. To make things easier, our handy bike lights guide covers all you need to know.

Front Lights

A white light designed to be attached to the front of your bike, front lights are typically more powerful than rear lights. Front lights will help to ensure you're seen from head-on but will also help you see where you're going.

Halfords Advanced 500 Lumen Front Bike Light

The new and improved Halfords Advanced 500 Lumen Front Bike Light is perfect for use on dark streets and poorly lit areas, with 8 lighting modes for versatile riding and a wide vision cut-off beam to avoid dazzling traffic. The USB-C charging system takes two hours less to charge the battery from empty to full, meaning that you can recharge in the office before your evening commute.

Rear Lights

Designed to be used on the back of your bike, rear lights usually sit snugly on the seat post of your bike. They have a red beam and are designed this way to ensure traffic can see you.

Halfords 50 Lumen Rear Bike Light

The Halfords 50 Lumen Rear Bike Light features a slim aerodynamic design that sits neatly & unobtrusively on your seat post with the angled mount ensuring the output from the light is projected straight out towards motorists, not down at the floor. Side cut-outs increase your visibility at junctions and roundabouts. The Halfords 50 Lumen is USB rechargeable & features an extremely useful 2.5-hour run time in 50 lumen mode.

Light Sets

Usually cheaper than buying front and rear lights separately, light sets are the money-savvy choice and come with both a front and rear light included in a set.

Lezyne KTV Drive / KTV Pro Smart Pair

The Lezyne KTV Drive / KTV Pro Smart Pair is an advanced pair of cycling lights for commuters and cyclists looking for improved visibility on the road. The pair comes equipped with our Smart Connect wireless technology, which allows them to be quickly programmed and customized by the companion LED Ally phone app. Once programmed and paired, the front light wirelessly controls the rear light, allowing for one-button turn-on and shut off.

Wearable Lights

Designed to be attached to your jacket, bag, or helmet, these lights help to make sure that you are visible, and not just your bike. Usually quite compact, they can easily be clipped to and removed from clothing and really make an impact when paired with reflective clothing.

The Halfords LED Armband Light and Halfords Helmet Light, when worn together, would make a great addition to your safety on the bike.

Key Features

When you start looking at lights, you'll notice that some are simple single-button affairs, whereas others have a features list as long as your arm, which is why we’ve outlined some key considerations for you.

Power Output

A light's brightness is measured by 'lux' or 'lumens'. Lux measures distance as well as light power, whereas lumens is just the power output from the source of the light. The range of lumens available is huge and can range from about 5 to 500 lumens for rear lights, and from 10 up to around 2,000 for front lights. Lower lumen lights are ideal for cycling in built-up, well-lit areas, whereas higher lumens are designed for taking the road less travelled. You can find out more about lumens in our in-depth lighting guide.

Light Modes

Even basic lights will often come with several light modes. These usually range from constant to flashing and will help to save your battery. Some let you alter the brightness as well, which is helpful if you're travelling between well-lit and rural areas. You may come across a relatively new feature called 'Daylight Flash', where the light will emit a flash powerful enough to be seen during the day.

USB Rechargeable

Plenty of lights on the market are USB rechargeable. Not only do these save you money as you're not buying loads of batteries, but they're also really easy to charge. Simply plug the light into a computer or USB plug to charge it up.

Battery Life

Some lights feature battery indicators so you know how long you've got left before they leave you in the dark. This is a great way of knowing when you need to replace the batteries or charge the light up, instead of charging it every day or having it die during a nighttime ride. Battery life often depends on the lighting mode you use; flashing mode tends to prolong the life of the battery, whereas a high-powered constant mode will shorten it.

Waterproof (IP rating)

All good-quality lights are waterproof, which is pretty much essential in this country. Having your rear light fail due to a water leak can be pretty dangerous, as it could happen midway through a ride. You can learn more about IP ratings in our in-depth lighting guide.

Mounting

It's not all about the light; the bracket and mount are also important. A good bracket will securely lock the light in place and focus the beam in the right direction.

Commuting

If you commute through a city or a town, it's important to make sure you're highly visible. Whilst having a good set of primary lights and secondary lights is the perfect starting point, you'll also need a reflective jacket and bag or bag cover at the very least.

Although streetlights in urban areas will help you to see, we still recommend having lights that let you see at least a few metres ahead. It's pretty important to have a set of good-quality lights just in case you end up on a darker route or you're hit by bad weather.

Road Cycling

If you like to hit the road after work or on the weekend, it's best to get a light set that enables you to both see and be seen in all climates.

Since the weather in the UK is famously unpredictable, it's best to invest in a good light set that can help guide you home when the heavens open. A light set with various modes will come in handy here; these will help you find the perfect amount of light for certain times, as well as help to save the battery. These are ideal for cycle routes that take you from brightly lit areas to dim country lanes, enabling you to set the correct amount of light for each situation.

There are loads of options out there when it comes to ensuring you're visible on the road. You'll notice that many products, such as saddle bags, pannier bags and helmets feature reflective strips, and you can also buy reflective strips and stickers separately to put on your clothes or bag. Hi-vis backpack and helmet covers, along with reflective waistcoats are also a good idea. And don't forget to pop a few reflectors onto your bike!

It's also a good idea to keep some emergency lights as a backup in your saddle bag, in case your main lights fail, leaving you riding in the dark.